The weight pushed Martens’ two-day total to 32-8 and kept him in the lead for a second straight day. But two young anglers, Michigan’s Chad Pipkens (31-13) and Australian Carl Jocumsen (31-12), are less than a pound back, and reigning Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Greg Hackney (30-5) is within easy-striking distance.
Martens, who has performed well in tougher tournaments throughout his career, said he doesn’t know how long his pattern will hold up.
“There’s not a lot of fish where I’m fishing,” said Martens, who also increased his lead in the Angler of the Year standings to 65 points over his nearest competition, Justin Lucas. “Carl (Jocumsen) and I are fishing the same area, catching each other’s fish. If there were two more boats in there, we would probably be toast.”
Boat traffic should be less of a problem Saturday with the field trimmed to the Top 50. But a weekend regulation change will further complicate the long run that anglers like Martens and Jocumsen have been making downriver toward Baltimore each day.
Several large stretches are declared “no-wake” zones on Chesapeake Bay for the weekend, and that will force anglers to slow to idle speed for parts of a boat run that is already taking more than an hour one way.
“It’s been nice being able to run around without thinking about no-wake zones,” Martens said. “That’s really going to hamper how I fish.
“I left some closer areas alone today where I could have gone back and caught more, trying to save them. You’ve got to save fish in this tournament.”
The fishing was tough again for much of the field Friday, with anglers needing just 15-2 to make the Top 50 cut. Jacob Powroznik, who was tied for sixth place Thursday with 15-2, zeroed Friday, but still managed to make the cut in 50th place.
One angler who hasn’t bemoaned the tough fishing this week as much as others is Pipkens, who caught 14-15 Friday to push his two-day total to 31-13. He’s just 11 ounces back of Martens and might be in the lead if he hadn’t lost one good fish Friday morning.
“I’m not getting a lot of bites, but a lot of the ones I’m catching are good ones,” Pipkens said. “Today, I had three 3-pounders, and I caught a big one – about 4 1/2 pounds – with very little time left to fish.
“But I also weighed in a fish that was about a pound and a half. I feel like the one I broke off was another 3-pounder, and that would have helped me.”
Jocumsen brought in the largest catch of the day with 17-5 and jumped to third place with 31-12. He said he’s been keying on bluegill to catch most of his fish.
“The fish I’m catching are bluegill eaters,” Jocumsen said. “I know they’re eating big bluegill, because they coughed them up in my live well yesterday. The only spots I’m catching fish is where I’m seeing bluegill.”
Hackney caught 15-15 Friday, pushing his total to 30-5. But he didn’t sound nearly as confident about his pattern as Pipkens and Jocumsen.
“It was kind of like yesterday, and yet different,” Hackney said, laughing. “Yesterday, the fish were predominantly on wood. Today, it was grass. It’s a very challenging place to fish, because you don’t know when the next one’s coming or where it’s coming from.”
Hackney said he’s been “junk fishing” with 10 to 15 rods on the deck of his boat. He also said the lure that worked best for him Thursday didn’t produce at all Friday for the mixture of largemouth and smallmouth he’s been targeting.
“The two I picked to win this thing were Michael Iaconelli and Jacob Powroznik, because they probably know the most about this place,” Hackney said. “But they’ve both struggled, and I think that tells you that something is a little off right now.”
Also with a shot at winning after two days are Japanese pro Morizo Shimizu (29-2), Indiana angler Bill Lowen (28-3) and California pro Skeet Reese (28-2).
Rojas, who entered the tournament just 11 points behind Martens in the AOY race, missed the cut in 63rd with 12-10. That cleared a path for Lucas, who made the cut in 19th with 22-2, to jump from third to second in the point standings.
Because Martens is in the lead on Day 2, he will earn the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $500.
The tournament will resume Saturday with a 6:15 a.m. takeoff from Anchor Marina and North East Community Park. The weigh-in will be held back at the park at 3 p.m., with only the Top 12 anglers advancing to Championship Sunday for a chance at the $100,000 first-place prize.
The Elite Series Expo will have B.A.S.S. sponsor representatives onsite throughout the weekend with activities, games and prizes for attendees. All of the family-friendly activities planned throughout the weekend are free and open to the public.
2015 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Huk Performance Fishing, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines , Bassmaster website, television show ,The Bassmasters, social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
2015 HUK Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite at Chesapeake Bay 8/13-8/16
Chesapeake Bay, Cecil County MD.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 32-08 100 $500.00
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 15-00
2. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 10 31-13 99
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 14-15
3. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TX AUSTRALIA 9 31-12 98
Day 1: 4 14-07 Day 2: 5 17-05
4. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 30-05 97
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 15-15
5. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 9 29-02 96
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 4 12-09
6. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 28-03 95
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 15-13
7. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 28-02 94
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 12-05
8. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 10 27-04 93
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 11-05
9. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 26-15 92
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 14-15
10. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 10 26-12 91
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 16-00
11. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 8 25-07 90
Day 1: 4 10-11 Day 2: 4 14-12
12. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 25-03 89
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 11-07
13. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 10 23-13 88
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 09-09
14. Randy Howell Springville, AL 8 23-08 87
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 3 08-07
15. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 22-15 86
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 11-00
16. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 7 22-12 85
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 2 07-10
17. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 9 22-09 84
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 4 12-06
18. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 9 22-06 83
Day 1: 4 10-03 Day 2: 5 12-03
19. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 10 22-02 82
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 11-12
20. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 8 22-00 81
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 5 14-07
21. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 7 20-14 80
Day 1: 2 05-12 Day 2: 5 15-02
22. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 20-09 79
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 08-10
23. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 10 19-12 78
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 06-01
24. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 19-06 77
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 5 13-12
25. Mike Kernan Wylie, TX 10 19-06 76
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 09-07
26. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 9 19-02 75
Day 1: 4 04-13 Day 2: 5 14-05
27. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 19-02 74
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 06-13
28. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 9 19-00 73
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 4 07-04
29. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 10 18-15 72
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 09-04
30. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 8 18-12 71
Day 1: 4 10-03 Day 2: 4 08-09
31. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 8 18-04 70
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 5 12-12
32. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 18-03 69
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 10-10
33. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 18-02 68
Day 1: 5 05-13 Day 2: 5 12-05
34. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 9 17-15 67
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 4 07-12
35. David Walker Sevierville, TN 6 17-14 66
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 5 16-01
36. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 6 17-05 65
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 1 02-06
37. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 8 17-05 64
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 3 05-07
38. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 9 17-05 63
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 4 06-09
39. David Smith Del City, OK 8 17-03 62
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 3 05-00
40. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 6 17-02 61
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 1 02-02
41. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 7 17-01 60
Day 1: 3 09-08 Day 2: 4 07-09
42. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 8 17-00 59
Day 1: 4 09-11 Day 2: 4 07-05
43. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 8 16-09 58
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 3 04-00
44. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 8 16-07 57
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 5 10-11
45. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 16-04 56
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 16-04
46. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 8 16-02 55
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 5 09-04
47. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 10 16-01 54
Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 5 09-15
48. Jordan Lee Vinemont, AL 8 15-15 53
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 3 04-02
49. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 15-05 52
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 07-09
50. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 5 15-02 51
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
51. Ken Iyobe Tokoname Aichi JAPAN 5 15-01 50
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 1 04-08
52. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 14-11 49
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
53. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 4 14-02 48
Day 1: 1 04-10 Day 2: 3 09-08
54. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 6 14-01 47
Day 1: 4 08-05 Day 2: 2 05-12
55. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 4 13-14 46
Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 3 11-00
56. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 7 13-07 45
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 4 06-15
57. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 7 13-05 44
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 2 02-12
58. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 13-01 43
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
59. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 13-01 42
Day 1: 2 04-12 Day 2: 3 08-05
60. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 6 12-13 41
Day 1: 4 07-09 Day 2: 2 05-04
61. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 4 12-12 40
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 2 08-01
62. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 6 12-11 39
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 5 11-04
63. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 6 12-10 38
Day 1: 3 08-07 Day 2: 3 04-03
64. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 7 12-00 37
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 5 08-05
65. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 4 11-11 36
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 11-11
66. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 7 11-08 35
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 2 03-12
67. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 11-05 34
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 2 04-14
68. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 5 10-15 33
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 4 08-07
69. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 4 10-11 32
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 3 08-11
70. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 10-09 31
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 4 08-03
71. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 9 10-09 30
Day 1: 5 05-09 Day 2: 4 05-00
72. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 6 10-04 29
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 1 02-14
73. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 4 10-02 28
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 10-02
74. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 4 10-00 27
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 3 07-12
75. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 8 09-15 26
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 5 05-02
76. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 4 09-14 25
Day 1: 2 06-06 Day 2: 2 03-08
77. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 3 09-10 24
Day 1: 2 06-10 Day 2: 1 03-00
78. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 4 09-07 23
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 1 01-05
79. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 4 09-02 22
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 2 04-13
80. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 9 09-01 21
Day 1: 5 04-02 Day 2: 4 04-15
81. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 09-00 20
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 2 02-02
82. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 3 08-12 19
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-12
83. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 6 08-08 18
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 5 07-05
84. David Williams Maiden, NC 4 07-10 17
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 05-12
85. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 4 07-03 16
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 2 03-01
86. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 3 06-12 15
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-12
87. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 2 06-05 14
Day 1: 2 06-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 3 06-03 13
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 1 01-11
89. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 2 05-14 12
Day 1: 2 05-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
90. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 2 05-09 11
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
91. Casey Scanlon Lanexa, KS 4 05-03 10
Day 1: 3 03-01 Day 2: 1 02-02
92. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 2 05-03 9
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 1 02-08
93. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 3 04-09 8
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 2 03-10
94. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 2 04-06 7
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-06
95. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 2 04-03 6
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-03
96. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 4 04-03 5
Day 1: 3 03-05 Day 2: 1 00-14
97. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 1 03-15 4
Day 1: 1 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Joseph Sancho New Windsor, NY 1 03-07 3
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-07
99. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 1 03-05 2
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-05
100. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 3 03-04 1
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
101. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 2 03-04 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
102. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 3 03-02 0
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 2 02-00
103. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 2 02-15 0
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
104. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
105. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
105. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
107. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 2 01-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 01-13
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 43 338 783-01
2 36 330 760-02
———————————-
79 668 1543-03
By: Helen White, Bassmaster
